Shaft or tongue coupling



(No Maciel.) 2 Sheetsr-Sheet 1. N. M. VALENTINE.

SHAFT 0R TONGUE GOUPLING.

No. 593,004. Patented Nov. 2,1897.

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2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

N, M. VALE'.l\ITII\E.4 SHAFT 0R ToNGUl-z GOUPLING.

Patented Nov. 2, 1897.

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NATIIAN M. VALENTINE, OF MONTEZUMA, IOVA.

SHAFT OR TONGUE COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 593,004, dated November 2, 1897.

Application tiled August '7, 1897. Serial No. 647,460. (No model.) v

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, NATHAN M. VALENTINE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Mon tezurna, in the county of Poweshiek and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shaft or Tongue Gouplings; and I do hereby declare the following to he a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in couplings for connecting the shafts or tongues of vehicles to the fore axles thereof; and it consists in the novel constructions, combinations, and arrangements of parts hereinafter more fully described ,and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a vehicle embodying lmy invention. Fig. 2 is an elevational vieur of the fore axle removed, showing my invention applied thereto; Fig. 3, a rear elevational view, and Fig. i a plan view, of the same; Fig. 5, a detail perspective view of the holt-actuating device. Fig. 6 is a cross-section through the axle and bottom plate of clip 10.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings, 1 represents a vehicle of any approved construction, and 2 represents the foreaxle thereof, comprising the Wooden section 3 and the metallic section it, provided With the spindles 5, on which the Wheels are revoluhly mounted. The two sections of the axle are connected, as usuahhy the end clips 6 and intermediate clips 7 7n.

The two end clips 6 are each provided, as usual, with the spaced parallel keeper-plates S, having alined openings S and adapted to receive the apertured head 9a of the shaftirons D.

10 represents a clip secured to the axle adjacent one end thereof and contiguous to one of the end coupling-clips 6. The lower ends 10a of this clip are threaded and pass through threaded openings in a bottom pivot-plate 1l, and are connected therewith by interiorly and exteriorly threaded bushings 12, which serve to clamp said clip to the axle. The opposite ends of the plate 11 are reduced to form spinlagainst the tension of the spiral spring 22,

dles 13 13a, on which pivots the holt-actuating device, and the extremities of said spindles are threaded, as shown.

The holt-actuati n g device consists of a suh stantially U shaped lever 14, the parallel side arms 14 lith of which are pivoted on said spindles, and are retained in position thereon by suitable nuts and Washers engaging said spindles or by heading one spindle and providing a nut 15 on the other spindle, as shown. The

arm 14 of the lever is formed with a lateral and vertical extension 17, having a horizontal foot-piece 18.

19 2O represent locking bolts extending parallel with the axle, fulcrumed at one end to the arm 11th of the actuating-lever and having their opposite ends 19:1 20a respectively passed through the openings 8 of the keeper-plates 8 and apertured head of the shaft-irons 9 and coupling said parts together. Each lockingholt is preferably7 constructed of spring metal and is formed adjacent its outer end With a flattened portion 21 to permit said outer end to give or yield to prevent injury thereto during the locking operation when the apertures in the keeper-plates and shaft-irons are out of coincidence.

The foot-piece 18 of the holt-actuating lever is disposed on the inner side of the shaft and adjacent one end thereof, and its position is such that it may he readily depressed by the foot of the operator either from the drivers seat of the vehicle or from the ground. This action retracts or draws the lockingbolts inward, so as to release the shaft-irons attached to the bottom plates of the clip 7 and actuating-lcver 14, Which spring serves to shoot or project the bolts and normally maintain them in such position.

A stop-bolt 7b extends through the Wooden axle-section 3 and projects into the path of the foot-piece 18 and serves to limit the downward movement of the same.

By this construction and arrangement of the holt-actuating mechanism it will .be seen that the shafts or a tongue, with which latter it may also he employed, may he readily and quickly attached and detached for repair or for other purposes or to release a runaway-horse from the vehicle.

IOO

The invention, While simple in construction, is effective in operation, not liable to get out of order, and is adapted for application to vehicles already built Without altering the construction thereof.

I desire it understood Vthat I do not limit my invention to the specific construction and arrangement of parts herein described, but reserve to myself the right to make such changes and modifications as fairly fall Within the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and useful, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, 1s v l. In shaft and tongue couplers for vehicles, the combination with the fore axle and tongue or shafts, a clip on said axle provided With a bottom clamping-plate formed with spindles, a substantially U -shape'd lever having its side arms pivotally mounted on said spindles and provided with a depressible footpiece, and bolts connected with said lever and adapted to couple the shafts or tongue and axle, substantially asdescribed.

2. In shaft and tongue couplers for vehicles, the combination with the fore axle and tongue or shafts, a clip on said axle adjacent one end thereof provided With a bottom clamping-plate having its ends reduced to form spindles, a substantially U -shaped lever having its side arms pivotally mounted on said spindles and one of said arms provided with a foot-piece, bolts connecting With the opposite arm of said lever and adapted to engage and unite coupling members on the axle and shafts or tongue, and a spring normally holding said bolts projected, substantially as described.

In. testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

VNATI-IAN M. VALENTINE.

' Vitnesses:

J. W. CARR, T. E. VEST. 

